Avonhead Riding (3 seats)

Press, 16 September 1986, Page 36

Avonhead Riding (3 seats)

(Waimairi Independence Team) Avonhead resident for 12 years. R.N.Z.A.F. career for 30 years. Founder member of the Red Checkers Aerobatic Team. Awarded Air Force cross and appointed Honorary Aid to the GovernorGeneral. Retired as Wing Commander. Associate Fellow of the Institute of Management, member of the Royal Aeronautical Society and past branch chairman.

Joint manager of a fashion salon in Avonhead. He sees the two main issues facing the Avonhead riding as the need to return Mrs Margaret Murray as the District Chairman, and the need to oppose the proposed merger of local bodies in Christchurch. A centralisation of power would not be in the best interests of the community. Longer lines of communication, slower decision making and inefficiencies would result, he said. Centralised staff would lead to significant increases in costs to Waimairi ratepayers. The people’s interests would be best served by maintaining closer contact with local bodies and putting their efforts into small but efficient organisations. Future growth within Avonhead included the development of Church Corner and more than 800 housing sections in Hyde Park. This growth would require the consideration of children, the elderly, and sportsmen and women, he said.

(Waimairi Independence Team) Sitting member with 18 years experience in local government. Director of a Christchurch company, founder member of the High Street Business Association. Ham School P.T.A. four years, Ham School Committee six years. Former member of the Christchurch Drainage Board, sitting member of the Town Hall Board of Management and the Canterbury United Council.

He pledges to do all in his power to keep Waimairi independent and expose the “undemocratic” processes of the Local Government Commission in attempting to force amalgamation. His main aim is to oversee the effective and cost-efficient management of the ratepayers’ dollar.

(Waimairi Independence Team) Sitting member for nine years. District Chairman since 1983. Member of Can-

terbury United Council, Regional Development Council, Canterbury University Council and Christchurch Teachers’ College Council. She believes that support for Waimairi Independence Team candidates was critical for the future stability of the council and a united opposition to the proposed single city. She has been "appalled and disappointed” that some councillors had indulged in “petty politics" instead of presenting a united opposition to the issues facing Waimairi. The rights of residents and ratepayers had never before been under so much threat. The adding of GST to rates was totally unjustified, and the Government had made an arbitrary decision to "disregard the democratic rights of residents to determine their own future,” she said. Mrs Murray said she would continue the fight for the rights of residents and build on the development already achieved in Waimairi.

Also standing in Avonhead Riding are Frank Chisholm and lan Clark.